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Jonathan’s cabinet:Why PHCN
Workers are against Professor Barth Nnaji
By Ayokunle Oloye Newsdiaryonline
28-06-11
Just as President Goodluck Jonathan forwarded names of his
ministerial nominees to the senate, a clearer picture
emerged why workers of
the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN are against the
re-appointment of former Special Adviser Professor Barth Nnaji
into the power ministry.The workers under the umbrella of the
National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) will today
(TUESDAY) shut down the nation’s electricity industry,
protesting against perceived plans by President Goodluck
Jonathan to appoint Professor Barth Nnaji as Minister or given
any responsible position in the Electricity Sector in the
formation of new cabinet.
Nnaji, according to
the union, did practically nothing to improve on the Power
situation except scheming to buy over PHCN while
he was Adviser to the
President on Power.The union’s General Secretary, Comrade Reuben
Orlu said “As Adviser to the President on Power, he had
irreconcilable difference with the workers and earned the
unenviable mark of recording the highest number of industrial
crisis in the Power Sector which never obtained before his
appointment. Government should realize the need not to appoint
Professor Barth Nnaji to this critical sector if the confidence,
commitment and support of the workers are veritable ingredients
for sustainable development and growth of electricity in
Nigeria.”
He said besides that “it is sordid for Government not to
consider the position of the workers who are major stakeholders
in the Power Project, Professor Barth Nnaji, whose individual
negative interest conflicts with the yearnings of Nigerians in
resolving the Power crisis must not be appointed a Minister or
be given any responsible position in the Electricity Sector. It
should be noted that Aba Power Ltd and Geometrics Ltd are owned
by Professor Barth Nnaji and have been granted licenses to
Generate, Transmit and Distribute Electricity for over six (6)
years.”
“But till date these companies have not been able to generate a
Unit of Electricity. All members of staff are hereby directed to
observe this programme as a warning signal to the main action if
he is eventually appointed against wise counsel.”
He said several
stakeholders had
petitioned the federal government against appointing him a
Minister or be given any responsible position in the electricity
sector if the president is serious about resolving the Power
crisis in the nation.
There is more.Comrade Joe Ajaero, said “The economic hawks have
not reneged in the selfish bid to sell off our patrimony to
their proxies. They are presently jostling for positions
which will put them at a vantage position for the manifestation
of their evil plans. You will recall that close to the end of
June, the fifty percent (50%) salary increase agreed upon after
the negotiation with the Hassan Sumonu Committee is either not
being implemented or is being tinkered with. Consequently, we
cannot but supplicate to God to destroy all their evil plans
including their armoury.”
The workers prayed that
“Our Lord, our God, open the heart of Mr. President to appoint a
credible Power Minister and not a self seeker.”
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